September 8 - A number of US publications, including the New York Times and San Diego Tribune, are reporting the death of Orange, California-born engineer and inventor Keith W. (Tant) Tantlinger, he was aged 92 and died at home in Escondido, California.
Tantlinger is credited with being one of the two most influential men involved in the creation of standardised ocean containers.
He worked with Malcolm McLean at Pan Atlantic Steamship Co, later Sea-Land Service. While McLean is generally credited with the business idea that led to the standardised ocean container, the so-called box that changed the world, it was Tantlinger's designs for a corner casting and twist-lock system used to load, unload and secure containers to ships and platforms as well as other equipment used in containerisation that made the idea a practical proposition.
During a career spent in transport and freight innovation and design, he was granted 79 United States patents.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Wanda; daughter Susan; stepson Daniel W. Delinger; daughter-in-law Kelly; and grandchildren.
